Transmigrated Into A Novel As A Scumbag Princess’ Consort - Chapter 50

50:

Even though he expected the imperial private treasury to hold many treasures, the Emperor never imagined there would be this much.

When he saw the ledger before entering, his head spun—so much gold, silver, jewelry, and jade artifacts that even the ledger recording them filled an entire chest.

His father had passed away suddenly, leaving no instructions, and his mother, bedridden in her final days, had been taciturn, neither mentioning a word about the private treasury.

He had assumed his father’s treasury was empty. After all, an emperor’s allowance, though substantial, was quickly depleted with a few lavish bestowals, leaving nothing by month’s end.

He never expected his father to leave him such a massive surprise—3 million taels of gold accumulated by past emperors, equivalent to three years of the national treasury’s revenue.

As the treasury doors opened, the Emperor couldn’t wait to step inside.

“All of you, wait outside.”

He wanted to go in alone, lest his overwhelming joy make him appear undignified.

To possess such wealth and not know it—his emotions were far too complex. Right now, he just wanted to see his gold.

The treasury walls were inlaid with luminous pearls, and deeper inside were countless wooden chests, all unlocked.

A flicker of dissatisfaction crossed the Emperor’s mind. His father had been too careless, not even properly securing it for him.

He opened the first chest and froze.

Then the second, the third, the fourth…

“Ah—!”

A scream echoed from within the treasury.

Outside, the attendants exchanged glances. The chief eunuch said uncertainly, “Is His Majesty… too excited?”

The Empress remained silent. Why did it sound like a scream of anguish? It reminded her of the wail Consort Shu let out when she was sent to the cold palace two days ago.

Moments later, the Emperor rushed out, looking half-mad, grabbing the guard in charge and roaring, “Where’s the gold? The jewels? Did you embezzle them and empty my treasury? Speak! Speak!”

The private treasury had been emptied!

The chief eunuch and the Empress exchanged a shocked look, their eyes wide. They hadn’t misheard, who would dare steal from the Emperor’s private treasury?

The Emperor was on the verge of losing his mind. All those chests—empty, every single one!

“Calm yourself, Your Majesty. You only looked at the incoming ledger, not the outgoing one…” The eunuch in-charge of the accounts, kneeling, shakily held up a ledger over his head.

He was panicking. He’d assumed the new Emperor knew the situation, but now it seemed his father had kept him in the dark.

The Emperor snatched the ledger, and his mind nearly exploded.

His father had ordered the Ministry of Rites to use all the treasury’s jewels and jade as his burial goods!

And the gold? All left to his mother!

His mother had then instructed the Ministry of Rites to use the gold as her burial goods!

Were they insane?

A deathly silence hung in the air. The Emperor felt he was truly going mad.

Because he was actually considering digging up the imperial tombs…

Outside the treasury, silence reigned, but the exile convoy was bustling with energy.

Everyone had noticed the third person granted a divine tool by the immortal: Shiniang.

Shiniang still walked at the rear of the group, but she no longer reached for the officer’s blade at her waist, once owned by Zeng Laosan.

She held the stun baton, gripping it tightly at first, but gradually relaxing, even twirling it in her hand from time to time.

What a fine tool, she thought, especially suited for women. It wasn’t a sharp weapon, didn’t look threatening, and wouldn’t put others on guard.

If only Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju could have one too.

With that thought, she called them over: “Do you want to be like Shi Song?”

She raised the stun baton.

The four immediately understood, nodding eagerly.

Of course they wanted to, but they didn’t have Shi Song’s skills.

Shiniang smiled: “Wanting it is enough. From now on, whenever you have time, go to Shi Song for guidance. I’ll also teach you some self-defense techniques.”

Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju had no martial arts foundation or killer instinct, so conventional training wouldn’t work.

They’d need an unconventional approach. If they could learn the body’s vital points like Shi Song and master basic movements, the divine tool could still be highly effective.

As for ruthlessness, that would come with experience.

Shiniang kept thinking about what to do next. Their group totaled only thirty people. Excluding the elderly and children, and removing Mu Er, that left twenty. Without Ye Xuejin and Yun Chi, it was eighteen, with her and the girls making six—a third of their force.

A third of their strength had to be put to good use.

Since Her Highness trusted her and granted her a divine tool, she couldn’t let that trust be misplaced.

With these thoughts, Shiniang acted during the midday break.

“Your Highness.”

“Your Highness!”

Shiniang had just spoken when a louder voice followed.

It was Old Censor Zhou.

He couldn’t hold back any longer. Three divine tools had been granted—three! The lead officer Yu Lu had one, Shi Song among the girls had one, and now Shiniang had one, yet the Zhou family was still empty-handed.

If he didn’t act, he feared Her Highness would never notice the Zhou family.

Ye Xuejin looked at them both: “What is it? Shiniang, you first.”

Old Censor Zhou, who had opened his mouth but hadn’t spoken, felt a pang of frustration. One step too slow, and every step lagged behind.

“Your Highness, I’d like Shi Song to stay at the rear for now, to teach Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju some self-defense skills,” Shiniang said earnestly, her eyes full of sincerity.

Ye Xuejin paused, then looked at Shi Song: “Shi Song, go.”

“Understood, Your Highness.” Shi Song agreed without hesitation. Though she preferred staying by the Princess side, her loyalty meant Her Highness’ word was law.

After Shi Song left with Shiniang, Ye Xuejin turned to Old Censor Zhou, nodding slightly to signal he could speak.

Old Censor Zhou could no longer hold back. If Her Highness couldn’t see his value, he’d make himself shine to catch her eye.

“Your Highness, this old minister had a sudden idea. The pastries granted by the immortal are not only portable but easy to eat. In the future, if they could be used in the army…”

A small piece could keep a soldier full for half a day; two pieces could last a whole day.

So small, they could be tucked into a pocket, with each soldier carrying enough for over ten days.

No need to worry about provisions, marching speed would outpace the enemy, and soldiers would have confidence.

Ye Xuejin looked at the excited Old Censor Zhou and nodded lightly: “Lord Zhou, you’ve thought this through. I will keep it in mind.”

Her gaze subtly flicked to Yun Chi, who sat nearby.

She had considered this too, but the key lay with the Consort.

Especially after realizing Yun Chi’s ability likely worked on an exchange basis, not an infinite resource, she had nearly abandoned the idea.

If the Consort could provide it, that would be ideal; if not, there was no need to push her.

Was the Consort troubled?

Hearing Old Censor Zhou’s words, Yun Chi met Ye Xuejin’s gaze.

Using compressed biscuits as military rations? That would require so many rewards!

Besides, in five days, Ye Xuejin’s name would be cleared. Yun Chi just wanted to take her gold and leave, not stay to help Ye Xuejin pursue that path.

With this rare transmigration, a once-in-a-lifetime journey, she wanted to do what she desired.

She had no interest in court politics or becoming a consort in the harem.

So, despite catching the deeper meaning in Ye Xuejin’s eyes, Yun Chi silently looked away, gazing at the clouds.

A polite refusal.

Seeing this, Ye Xuejin wasn’t disappointed. She wouldn’t force the Consort.

“Your Highness?”

“Lord Zhou, is there more?”

Old Censor Zhou tugged at his beard: “What does Your Highness think of my son?”

Zhou Qishan?

Ye Xuejin glanced over, seeing Zhou Qishan with a blade of grass in his mouth, playing cat’s cradle with a rope he’d found somewhere, winning a round against little Ying’er and playfully flicking her forehead.

Ying’er’s lip quivered, and she ran to Old Madam Zhou to complain.

Zhou Qishan, seeing this, bolted faster than a rabbit.

Old Censor Zhou’s face darkened: “My unworthy son has embarrassed himself before Your Highness.”

This blasted son, playing at the worst possible moment, looking neither steady nor wise.

Ye Xuejin smiled faintly: “Your son is a good father and very filial.”

That wasn’t what Old Censor Zhou wanted to hear. After a moment’s hesitation, he couldn’t hold back: “Does Your Highness think my son might catch the immortal’s eye and be granted a divine tool?”

The officers had one, Shiniang and the girls had them, but the Zhou family and Mu Er had none.

He was anxious, panicked.

Ye Xuejin, thoughtful, said, “If I recall correctly, your son is a civil official, yes?”

The Consort had said there were only seven stun batons. Yu Lu, Shi Song, and Shiniang had three, leaving four.

To maximize their use, she preferred giving them to those with strong combat skills.

Old Censor Zhou quickly replied, “Your Highness, rest assured, my eldest son knows some martial arts. Though a civil official, he’s proficient in the six arts of a gentleman, especially archery.”

The six arts of a gentleman were: rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics.

Archery meant shooting with a bow.

Ye Xuejin glanced at Zhou Qishan with surprise but didn’t agree immediately, as there was no bow or crossbow to test his actual skill.

After a moment’s thought, she still didn’t consent: “Lord Zhou, rest easy. Let me consider it.”

She didn’t doubt Old Censor Zhou, but a father speaking of his son, especially to secure a divine tool, might exaggerate.

With so few stun batons, she didn’t want to waste a single one.

Old Censor Zhou’s heart sank, realizing his mistake had cost him a golden opportunity.

After he left, Yun Chi looked at Ye Xuejin, deep in thought, and couldn’t help but speak.

“I can try to get a bow and arrow.”

Producing enough compressed biscuits for an army was tough, but a single bow and arrow shouldn’t be an issue.

Besides, she was counting on Ye Xuejin for more gold, so helping with small favors was only natural.

Ye Xuejin snapped out of her thoughts, not refusing: “Then I’ll trouble the Consort.”

Since they’d just passed through Caozhou City, Yu Lu and the officers had bought dry rations and equipped everyone with water pouches, so lunch wasn’t Yun Chi’s concern.

Sensing her storage space, Yun Chi took out a piece of beef jerky.

She’d tried before: trading weapons for weapons eventually led to diminishing returns, with only mineral water as an option. But switching tracks, like trading weapons for food, yielded greater value.

By the same logic, trading food for a weapon should work.

“Give me your hand.” Yun Chi signaled Ye Xuejin to extend her hand, using her sleeve to conceal the beef jerky as she passed it over.